Evaluation of antiobesity activity of Fucus vesiculosus

Abstract

Background and Aim: The drug Fucus vesiculosus is used in alternative system of medicine and homoeopathy, for the treatment of obesity. But in homoeopathic literature survey, we found no substantial pharmacological evidence to prove its safety and efficacy. So, the study was taken up on this drug and evaluated it on different animal models (diet‑induced and chemical‑induced models) of obesity. Material and Methods: Obesity was induced in adult female Wistar albino rats (100-120 g) by feeding the rats with cafeteria diet for 42 days in diet‑induced model and by administration of single intraperitoneal injection of Triton X‑100 in chemical‑induced model. In the diet‑induced model, weight of the animals was measured every week and parameters like total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) were measured on 0, 21 and 43 days. Further, locomotor activity was assessed for all the animals on 43rd day. On the same day, the rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and their organ and fat pad weights were recorded. In the chemical‑induced model, the above parameters were assessed on day 0 and day 8. Results: Feeding cafeteria diet for 42 days resulted in significant increases in the body weight, TC, TG, LDL and VLDL levels and a reduction in the HDL level. Further, the locomotor activity was found to be reduced significantly. Treatment with Fucus vesiculosus significantly protected the cafeteria diet fed animals from all these changes and helped to maintain normal locomotor activity. Similar results were observed in chemical‑induced obesity model also. Conclusion: Fucus vesiculosus treatment prevented the rats from becoming obese and the biochemical and physical parameters were maintained to normal levels. So, the drug Fucus vesiculosus can be taken up for further research on human subjects.